About

$6,115

pledged of $5,000 goal

51

backers

ABOUT US:

Every year, dozens of kids descend upon the stage of the Salesian Auditorium to learn the craft of theatre. They learn how to act, sing, dance, make costumes, build sets, run lights, develop original scripts, and study Shakespeare!
A program of the Salesian Boys' and Girls' Club in North Beach, Salesian Club Theatre prides itself on offering kids throughout San Francisco the opportunity to perform up to three times a year: we produce a fall Shakespeare, a spring musical, and somewhere in between, we put on an original play featuring our youngest performers in the third and fourth grades. Although membership in the Salesian Club is required (at the astonishing low cost of $10.00 per year), there is no cost to families for their child's participation in our plays. We are grateful that the Salesian Club covers the fees of our directors, and proceeds from ticket sales cover our materials and some production costs.
Everyone gets involved in our shows. From little sisters to brothers to parents and grandparents to family pets, our theatre is a true reflection of our neighborhood community. Most of us are pretty resourceful and creative folk, so we pull together set pieces, costumes, and props from our closets, garages, sometimes even the sidewalk in front of our homes. What we can't pull together, we have to purchase. And that's where your help comes in.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

After a year of bare-stage Dickensian drama and Shakespearean tragedy, we thought we’d open sail this Spring with the frolicking and funny musical romance, Anything Goes. We have twenty five eager cast members, ages 8 through 14. We have a full crew of parent volunteers AND we have the best music director in town, Billy Philadelphia, who will teach our kids the witty turns and references of Cole Porter (well, most of them). But this high seas story demands high production values. How do we transform our stage/gym auditorium into a 1930’s ocean liner? How can we improve our sound so not one witty refrain is missed by our audience? And those toe-tapping tunes of Mr. Porter’s need...tapping toes. Not only will we be combing thrift stores for vintage costumes, we have to buy tap shoes for twenty! Our current budget will not cover the additional lumber, lights, sound system support and, of course, those tap shoes that we need to move full steam ahead. Rehearsal begins in November, 2013. We seek funds to support the specific production needs of this big musical. Anything Goes performances are scheduled for March 29 and 30 in the Salesian Auditorium at 660 Filbert Street @ Powell, in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood. In order to start building and tapping, we need to raise $5000.00 so we can move full steam ahead in December.

So, help this ship set sail. Please make a gift to Salesian Club Theatre now.

Risks and challenges

There aren’t many risks associated with our project. Our venue and dates are confirmed, our cast is eager and dedicated, our musical and artistic directors are top notch and we have the support of many parent volunteers.

There are a number of challenges, however, in mounting an ambitious production like Anything Goes with kids. We want to put our best foot forward, literally. Teaching 25 kids how to tap dance is going to be a challenge. Noisy and fun, and challenging. Bringing in an audience can be challenging. In a city like San Francisco that boasts hundreds of daily arts events, our musical might not be at the top of everyone's must-see list. We need help reaching our audience. We need to find creative, low cost ways to get people interested in buying tickets to our production. Marketing Anything Goes needs to start early and use a variety of media.

Any setbacks that arise will be met with our usual resourcefulness. Like our Oliver! orphans featured in the photo above, we will confidently step forward to our community and ask for more. Challenges abound, but the show will go on!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

Make a $50 donation and you can take home a beautiful, full color poster from our current production of Romeo & Juliet or our upcoming production of Anything Goes in March 2014. This is in addition to the reward offered at the lower level.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

Backers at the $250 level will receive two free tickets to our production of Anything Goes in March 2014. Tickets include pre-show and intermission access to the VIP lounge. This is in addition to the rewards offered at the lower levels.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

A $500 pledge entitles you to four free tickets to our production of Anything Goes in March 2014. Tickets include access for you and your guests to the VIP lounge before the show and during intermission as well as a DVD, show poster, and acknowledgment in our Anything Goes program.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

Pledge $1,000 and you get a walk-on role in our production of Anything Goes in March 2014. Tap dancing and singing experience not required but welcome! This is in addition to the Rewards 1, 2, 3 and 5!